Suicide Squad

Suicide Squad. Touted as the film of the Summer before being slammed as the worst superhero film ever by mainstream reviewers.

The truth? It's neither of these things.

A note to the fans first of all: go and see it. It's an enjoyable treat and, finally, a chance to see these characters on the cinema screen for the first time and done properly, in the most part, as well. It's better than the reviews suggest but, and here's the kick in the teeth, it's another missed opportunity for DC.

It still feels so generic, stuck in the same rut that tripped Batman v. Superman in so many key places. The company who created the greatest superhero films ever made (and who have the best characters in the locker) don't need to prove anything, and certainly don't need to play catch up to Marvel. By creating the DC 'Extended Universe' in the space of three movies, playing catch up is how it comes across.

The critic's general theme takes aim at the short deadline the film was under and the edits and reshoots that took place to make it. It's fair to say some of the edits are appalling and jarring. It defies logic that some of the cuts exist and the film lacks flow. It's also fair to say that, although it is funny in parts, the comedy wasn't a necessary element and, again, why did DC think they needed to compete with Marvel's Deadpool? The rumoured, 'darker' edit of the film would have been an interesting watch.

My main issue? Like the aforementioned Deadpool, Suicide Squad is a standard and 'generic' superhero movie. The success of Marvel's more 'outre' films: Guardians Of The Galaxy and Ant-Man, was that they changed the formula, riffed off other genre tropes. Suicide Squad, with it's great concept, should, and easily could, have done the same. Instead? Yep, big CGI villain and big CGI 'world destroying machine' (suspiciously similar to the ending of X-Men Apocalypse in fact.) No shocks, no introduction of the 'hero' characters (no Superman here and only minor Batman and Flash cameos.)

Let's talk some good though, because the film does deserve some praise. The soundtrack is kick-ass, another lean towards Guardians... Also, the style with the lurid, luminous colour palette is iconic and lots of the scenes could have been the main poster.

The characters are almost all successful. Will Smith could make the phone book dramatic and brings a rounded personality to Deadshot. Seeing Killer Croc on screen is great, even if he is difficult to understand in parts. Diablo is the beating heart of the film and brilliantly portrayed (the fire effects are wonderful.) Rick Flag and Enchantress lead the plot forward. Captain Boomerang, though, is largely pointless and annoying but you can't win them all.

And then we come to the names on everyone's lips. Margot Robbie is electric as Harley Quinn as the character we all have wanted to see for so long finally comes to the screen. Her rumoured involvement in a standalone film is particularly intriguing as her flashback scenes are some of the best moments here. She's funny, violent, mad and completely irresistible; the perfect portrayal. There's even a glimpse of the classic harlequin suit.

Jared Leto's Joker is equally successful. Maybe not quite as iconic as a certain-other portrayal and the gangster motifs, whilst more in keeping with the original design, will divide some. I'm a fan though of the menace, the tattoos and the general creepiness of Leto. He's an incredible character actor and it feels like he will really grow into the role as the Extended Universe progresses. It's a shame he doesn't get more screen time but it feels like there's more to come.

The Zombieland-esque introductory scenes to the characters are the most fun and it's seeing this motley crew on screen which lifts the film. The scenes they share alone (the bar scene in particular) hint at the level DC could have achieved had they not bowed to outside pressure and laden the majority with brains-out, gonzo, shoot-em-up action.

With its generic plot and non-threatening action beats (the CG cannon-fodder villains are boring and the aforementioned machine unexplained and pointless) it feels like a let down. Had this featured The Avengers rather than Batman's rogues gallery I would have laid into it. However, as a DC fan and a chance to see these characters on screen it's an enjoyable, day-glo delight.

A missed opportunity, where will DC go from here?

4 stars ****